Church member reported apparent meth lab to authorities on Tuesday, undersheriff says

Receive the latest national-international updates in your inbox

Judith L. Hemken, 53, of Litchfield and Tiffany L. Burton, 26, of Hillsboro, face nine to 40 years in jail if convicted.

Updated at 8:41 AM PST on Thursday, Aug 28, 2014

Southern Illinois authorities on Wednesday charged two women with cooking methamphetamine in a church.

Judith Hemken, 52, of Litchfield, and Tiffany Burton, 26, of Hillsboro, were charged with participating in manufacturing meth. They could each face nine to 40 years in prison if convicted.

Undersheriff Rick Robbins said authorities responded to a call Tuesday from a Waveland Church member about an apparent meth lab. He said deputies stopped a vehicle the caller had described and arrested the women.

Bail was set at $200,000 for Hemken. Burton's bail was set at $100,000. It wasn't immediately clear if they had legal representation.

A small fire broke out from the lithium and moisture from a sink drain as authorities were taking apart the lab, but it was quickly contained and there were no injuries, Robbins said in an email to NBC Chicago.